Roemer shares his global perspective

WASHINGTON - Tim Roemer, the former congressman from South Bend who served on the 9/11 Commission and then was ambassador to India, consults now on global competition.

With middle classes expanding in India, China and other countries, while middle class joblessness still is too high in America, Roemer sees opportunity for trade to meet rising demands elsewhere and provide jobs at home.

But he warns that opportunities will be lost if American businesses don't know the territory abroad.

"Each country is a different challenge, with a different culture, a different people, a different way of doing business," Roemer says. "A business that trades with China shouldn't think what worked there will apply to India or Indonesia."

That's where the consulting comes in.

Roemer is a senior vice president of APCO Worldwide, providing strategic counsel on global markets.

The former six-term congressman, who was instrumental in creation of the 9/11 Commission, on which he served, retains a strong interest in homeland security and in security for diplomats abroad, a concern brought into focus by the killing of a U.S. ambassador in Benghazi, Libya.

During his two years as ambassador to India, Roemer says, he and the embassy were protected by what was called a "Zebra Plus" security package utilized in areas where there have been terrorist attacks. Terrorists strike frequently in India. About 180 people, including Americans, were killed in the 2008 bombings and shootings in Mumbai.

Roemer had a car with armor, armed security and presence at the embassy compound of 22 Marines.

"But there's always danger, no matter how much security," he says, because an American ambassador is an inviting target for anti-American terrorists. And with news coverage of him as America's top diplomat there, he was a recognized figure in India.

The Marines are on guard at the embassy, protecting the people and classified documents there. But the host country is counted on for security outside and when the ambassador travels.

"I went to my daughter's soccer game, and play stopped when I arrived," Roemer recalls. "There were eight guys (security) who came around me with machine guns."

Roemer says host country security clearly was insufficient in Benghazi. And he expressed concern that congressional cutbacks on funding for security for diplomats could have played a role. "It takes resources and money," he warns. "You can't do it on the cheap."

On homeland security, Roemer is pleased that of the 41 recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, 39 have been passed into law and another has been partially implemented. The only reform rejected by Congress involves Congress itself.

"Congress would not implement its own reform," says Roemer.

The commission recommended that Congress cut the number of committees and subcommittees claiming oversight of homeland security -- from 60 to 90 at times -- with members often seeking publicity in allegedly investigating.

"They point fingers at every agency," Roemer says. "They call the same witnesses. And the witnesses spend a third of their time testifying before some congressional hearing. They should be spending their time protecting our country."

The commission recommendations couldn't prevent the Boston Marathon bombings, Roemer says, because such a "soft target" as a marathon makes security difficult. He predicts that at the next marathon, there will be drones of seagull size providing views of the entire 26.2-mile course.

Before he left for two years in India, Roemer met in the Oval Office with President Obama, who appointed him as ambassador.

"The president envisioned an economic bridge that would mean more jobs in America," Roemer says. He cites agreements with India aimed at just that.

At the end of their discussion, Roemer relates: "The president put his arm around me and said, 'There are a billion people there. I want you to shake hands with every one of them.' He was joking. But he did want me to reach out, not just to the officials, but to everybody down to the lowest caste members. I took that to heart."

His travels helped to make Roemer so recognizable.

His family wasn't thrilled about going there -- his four children hated leaving their schools and life in America. But they adjusted, Roemer says, and a son now at Notre Dame even went back to India for spring break.

Jack Colwell is a columnist for The Tribune. Write to him in care of The Tribune or by e-mail at jcolwell@comcast.net.